More Robust Checks for Online Prescription Drugs
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has called for extra checks to be carried out by online pharmacies before providing medication to patients. Kimberley Nelson from our Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Team explains...
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has called for extra checks to be carried out by online pharmacies before providing medication to patients.
The GPhC has expressed concern at the findings of a BBC investigation in which several online pharmacies provided the BBC’s investigators with restricted medication without the proper assessments, with some restricted anti-anxiety medication and painkillers requiring only a completed online questionnaire before being prescribed to patients.
Current guidance from the regulator the GPhC states that online prescribers should obtain ‘all the information they need’ before prescribing medication which may be identified as high-risk, however, there is some concern that the current guidelines are too vague.
The parents of Katie Corrigan, a young woman who died in 2020 after accidentally overdosing on medication she purchased online, are among those calling for online pharmacies to be stricter in obtaining background information before prescribing medication that may not be suitable for the patient. The coroner at Katie Corrigan’s inquest reported that the safety controls around pharmacies who had prescribed to Katie had been inadequate.
With many people facing delays in obtaining appointments with their GP and turning to online pharmacies for speed and convenience, there is perhaps now more than ever a greater need to ensure online pharmacies are taking proper precautions to protect patients. Since the BBC’s findings, the GPhC has issued a statement claiming they have taken regulatory action against online pharmacies who fell short of professional standards, and that habit-forming or high-risk medication should not be provided online unless further safeguards have been put in place.
If you think you have a potential claim you'd like to discuss with our Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence specialists, please do get in touch with the team via info@leathesprior.co.uk or call 01603 610911.
Employment Rights Act 2026: The New Trade Union Right Of Access - Will it matter?
The Government has now published its response to the “Make Work Pay: Trade Union Right of Access” consultation which means we are now one step closer to properly understanding what these new access rights really will be.
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Employment Rights Act 2026: The New Trade Union Right Of Access - Will it matter?
The Government has now published its response to the “Make Work Pay: Trade Union Right of Access” consultation which means we are now one step closer to properly understanding what these new access rights really will be.
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Spring Statement 2026 - An Overview
With the Government having restricted itself to one fiscal event a year in the form of the Autumn Budget, the Spring Statement is perhaps not the dramatic moment it used to be. It is more a chance for the Government to respond to events and economic forecasts than to set policy for the future.
Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings
In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.
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The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection
Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.
The case of the fake cases: another judgment on AI-hallucinations in litigation
The use of AI Large Language Models in litigation continues to generate headlines (and consternation from the judiciary). In 2025, it seemed that rarely a month went by without a new case on fake AI-generated case law. December was no exception, and the High Court has now issued a further warning regarding the use of AI by litigants.
Autumn Budget 2025: Agricultural Property Relief & Business Property Relief Changes
It was announced in the 2025 Budget that from 6 April 2026, changes will be made to agricultural property relief and business property relief. These changes bring APR and BPR in line with the nil-rate band rules, meaning unused allowances can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner. This is a significant step towards making estate planning easier for families who own farms or businesses.
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The Employment Rights Act 2025 is expected to come into force tomorrow (18 December 2025)
After an extended period of back-and-forth amendments between Parliament and the House of Lords, on 16 December 2025, the ERB finally received approval from the House of Lords, with the formality of Royal Assent due to take place tomorrow (18 December 2025). Head of LP Employment, Dan Chapman, explains...
Charity of the Month: The Matthew Project
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting The Matthew Project as our Charity of the Month for December 2025. The Matthew Project supports young people and adults across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex to overcome issues around drugs, alcohol, and mental health, empowering them to rebuild confidence and lead fulfilling lives.
